Steven Lawayne Nelson was born on February 18, 1987, in Ada, Oklahoma. He had a brother and a sister, who was deaf. Nelson grew up in an environment with significant challenges. His mother often left him and his siblings home alone for days, showing little care for their needs. His father was frequently absent and was abusive towards the family.

From a young age, Nelson faced many difficulties. At just three years old, he set fire to his mother's bed. By the time he was six, he had already been in trouble with juvenile authorities for various crimes. These included property crimes like burglaries and thefts, as well as aggravated assault. Despite efforts from social workers to help him through counseling and probation, he was placed in a high-risk juvenile detention center due to his repeated offenses.

Nelson's family moved to Tarrant County, Texas, but his criminal behavior continued. When he was 14, he was arrested multiple times for serious offenses, like unauthorized use of a vehicle and burglary. The Texas juvenile court sentenced him to spend an extended time at the Texas Youth Commission, originally for nine months but he ended up serving over three and a half years.

After being released on parole a couple of times, Nelson often violated the terms, leading to further arrests. By 18, he was caught driving a stolen car. His crimes escalated as he continued to steal, including incidents in 2007 where he stole a laptop and boots from Walmart.

In 2010, after being released from state jail, Nelson assaulted his girlfriend and was charged with aggravated assault. Although she later tried to drop the charges, the authorities did not allow it due to his history. Nelson was then placed on probation and sent to a rehabilitation program.

On March 3, 2011, Steven Lawayne Nelson entered the NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. He attacked two people inside: Clint Dobson, who was a 28-year-old pastor, and Judy Elliott, a 69-year-old church secretary. Nelson had plans to rob them.

Clint Dobson was assaulted and strangled using a computer extension cord. Afterward, he was smothered with a plastic bag, which caused his death. Judy Elliott suffered severe injuries from the attack, including traumatic injuries to her face and brain. Though left for dead, she survived and was later hospitalized for two weeks.

After the attack, Nelson stole personal items from both Dobson and Elliott, including a laptop and credit cards. He used the stolen credit cards to buy clothes and jewelry. The police began searching for Nelson after Dobson's wife reported her husband missing when she could not reach him. When a church member and Elliott’s husband arrived at the church, they discovered the scene and called the police.

Investigators connected Nelson to the crime through forensic evidence. Blood from both victims was found on his shoes, and his fingerprints matched those taken from the church. Nelson was arrested and charged with capital murder. A second suspect, Anthony Gregory Springs, was initially charged but later released because the prosecution dropped the charges against him.

While awaiting trial, Nelson exhibited violent behavior in jail and committed several infractions. On March 19, 2012, he allegedly killed another inmate, Jonathan Holden, by creating a noose and suffocating him. After the incident, Nelson reportedly celebrated.

Nelson stood trial for Dobson's murder starting on October 1, 2012. The prosecution argued that he acted alone during the murder. They pointed to evidence that he stole the victims' belongings and used their credit cards. Nelson's defense claimed he was not the murderer and suggested that his friends were the real attackers. However, their alibis did not support his claims.

On October 8, 2012, a jury found Nelson guilty of capital murder and attempted capital murder. The sentencing phase began soon after, where the death penalty was sought due to Nelson's history of violence. On October 16, 2012, he was sentenced to death.

Nelson spent nearly a decade on death row, during which he filed multiple appeals, all of which were rejected. His death warrant was signed on June 10, 2024, for an execution date of February 5, 2025. Despite protests against his execution, the courts denied his last-minute appeals.

On February 5, 2025, at the age of 37, Steven Lawayne Nelson was executed by lethal injection.